Chinese: 功夫
Year: 2004
Director: Stephen Chow Sing-Chi
Producer: Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Chui Po-Chi, Jeff Lau Chun-Wai
Writer: Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Tsang Kan-Cheong, Xin Huo, Chan Man-Keung
Action: Yuen Woo-Ping, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo
Cast: Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Lam Chi-Chung, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Wah, Eva Huang Shengyi, Chan Kwok-Kwan, Tin Kai-Man, Feng Xiaogang, Dong Zhi-Hua, Hsiao Liang, Chiu Chi-Ling, Leung Siu-Lung, Xing Yu, Lam Suet, Zhang Yi-Bai, Yuen Cheung-Yan, Lam Chi-Sin, Fung Min-Hun, Wellson Chin Sing-Wai
The Skinny: Stephen Chow's long-awaited film is an under-developed kung-fu comedy that owns all thanks to its astoundingly keen commercial filmmaking sense. While repeated viewing may lessen its impact, Kung Fu Hustle is the wild and undeniably entertaining crowd-pleaser that Hong Kong Cinema fans have been waiting for.
Review
by Kozo: It's great, but also kind of sad. 2004 has been a veritable box-office wasteland for Hong Kong Cinema, with the highest grossing film being Fantasia at approximately $25 million dollars. Then it takes all of one week for Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustleto eclipse the grosses of every other HK film AND resurrect interest in the local film market. How can one man succeed where Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng and Johnnie To fail? What's the secret to Chow's ability to break the bank? Special effects? Slapstick comedy? The ability to make an entertaining movie? No Wong Jing? The likely answer: all of the above. Kung Fu Hustle may not be best Hong Kong film of the year, but its commercial instincts and eclectic mixture of elements makes it an absolute winner. For sheer entertainment value, nothing else in 2004 comes close.
Stephen Chow is Sing, a downtrodden dope in 1930s Shanghai who aspires to be a member of the Axe Gang, the top triad in the region. Led by Brother Sum (Chan Kwok-Kwan of Shaolin Soccer), the Axe Gang rules all thanks to their stylish attire, keen axe-throwing skills, and above all their toe-tapping rhythm. Besides ruling the streets of Shanghai with an iron fist (or axe), the gang breaks out into spontaneous dance numbers, and even Brother Sum likes to boogie after blowing someone away with a shotgun. Sing can't really expect to become a member of the Axe Gang because he's useless and a poor bluffer. He and his tubby sidekick (Lam Chi-Chung ofShaolin Soccer) pretend to be Axe Gang members to shakedown the local slum Pigsty Alley, but their antics cause more personal pain than profit. Even the lowest resident of Pigsty Alley seems equipped to deal with the pathetic pair. But can the residents of Pigsty Alley stand up to the real Axe Gang?.....
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